Arts in the Park

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            The Marion Art Center’s annual outdoor artisan market, “Arts in the Park,” returns on Saturday, July 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The event will be held in Bicentennial Park and on the MAC lawn. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 11.

            This curated event will feature over 40 local artists and artisans. Goods include baskets, ceramics, clothing, collage, fiber, glass, jewelry, woodworking, painted and hand-crafted furniture, paintings, photography, and more. Shop for fine art and handmade goods, grab lunch from the Oxcart (oxfordcreamery.com), listen to live music by Yesterday’s Country, view a beautiful exhibit in the MAC galleries, and enjoy a free kids’ craft activity. Enter for your chance to win a prize from the raffle – one original piece from each vendor! Featured artists in the MAC booth include Christy Gunnels, Heide Hallemeier, and David Maloney. This event is sponsored in part by a generous donation from the Marion Cultural Council, a local chapter of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. For more information, please email the MAC at info@marionartcenter.org.

Marion Town Party

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Save the date! We are pleased to announce that the Marion Town Party will return this summer! The Party will be held at Silvershell Beach on Front Street beginning at 4:00 pm on Saturday, August 28. There will be food and beverages for sale, music, and fun for the kids!

            For up to date information, please “Like” our Facebook page – Marion Town Party. We will have more details to share in the coming weeks. We look forward to celebrating with you!

ORRHS Principal’s Achievement Award

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Old Rochester Regional High School would like to honor the following students who performed at the highest level within their remote learning plan during the 2020-2021 school year:

            Grade 9: Ethan Furtado, Camryn Maniatis, and Hanna Whalley;

            Grade 10: Abigail Paulette, Andrew Poulin, Makenna Servais, and Isabella Vanderpol;

            Grade 11: Justin Allain, Jaelyn Allen, James Coleman, Olivia Mydlack, and Klara Whalley.

            These students are recipients of the 2021-2022 Principal’s Achievement Award.

Whose Water Is Whose?

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            In their quarterly meeting held June 24 at the Music Hall, the Marion Water and Sewer Commissioners heard from several key personnel on short and long-term developments as the town tries to address immediate problems and set the wheels in motion for long-term upgrades to aging facilities.

            Fred Underhill addressed the commissioners on behalf of the Town of Rochester, where he sits on that town’s Water Commission. (In Rochester, the members are not one and the same with the Select Board as is the case in Marion.)

            Underhill brought Marion officials up to date on the situation with Ken Steen’s residential/commercial development and Rochester’s water dependence on the Town of Wareham, which he noted is willing to sell Rochester more water as needed.

            The update served as a gateway to a discussion on the bigger picture, which is not pleasing to Underhill. He told the Marion commissioners that New Bedford is looking for more water from Rochester, while Taunton is looking to take more from Lakeville, which shares Great Quittacas and Little Quittacas ponds with Rochester.

            “It’s going to be interesting to see how the state is going to deal with this,” he said, characterizing the situation as “unfair” primarily because heretofore Rochester has no say in the matter. New Bedford, he said, has some ability to control the level of Great Quittacas Pond, which affects the level of Snipatuit Pond in Rochester. New Bedford, said Underhill, does “absolutely nothing” for Rochester.

            Rochester officials have made it known to state officials that they wish to be included in discussions regarding how much water New Bedford will be allowed to draw. Underhill hopes the four towns supplying New Bedford and Taunton with water can combine forces and speak to the state with a louder voice on the matter.

            Once the state decides on water withdrawal rights, supplying towns have at least 60, but no more than 90, days to respond, according to Underhill.

            Underhill told the meeting that David Hughes has been elected to replace Mike Conway, who moved out of the area and is no longer holding office in Rochester. Hughes may represent the town in a future meeting.

            In her water update to the commissioners, DPW Engineer Meghan Davis reported that the Mill Street/Route 6 project is done.

            The Mary’s Pond well project is ongoing. Davis anticipates completion in February 2022, at which point all three wells in the area will be up and running. Town Administrator Jay McGrail said a tour of the Mary’s Pond well project has been requested. The wells are on Rochester land.

            Davis reported on Marion’s hydrant replacement project, noting that the contractor is waiting on the delivery of certain parts to complete some of the replacements. She told Commissioner Randy Parker that what can be completed next year will depend on what can be fit into the project’s $50,000 budget. Davis said that once the three hydrants being upgrade are completed over the next few weeks, the town will be caught up with those that had been inoperable. After that, the priority will shift to aging hydrants in need of repair.

            Engineer Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard accompanied Davis to report to the commissioners. In 2020, Tata & Howard conducted an evaluation of water mains in Marion, primarily evaluating pressure and condition and recommended improvements.

            The 2020 report updated the hydraulic model, looking at water mains of varying sizes serving private areas. Some, said Gregory, as so small they are not viable in the larger picture. Gregory reported that 22 water mains in Marion are private, according to the report.

            Commissioner John Waterman said that, long term, the town wants to get out of the business of private water mains via incentive programs.

            DPW Director Nathaniel Munafo reported to the commissioners with a sewer update and was assisted with visual presentations and commentary by Kent Nichols Jr. of Reading-based engineers Weston and Sampson. At the end of the current grant cycle, Munafo said the DPW is ready to present project updates to the commissioners.

            Nichols discussed the plight of existing wastewater treatment stations as being low-lying and far below flood elevation. The goal, he said, is to make the Creek Road station fully functional and address the long-term issue of resiliency.

            McGrail, while alluding to a discussion with Representative Bill Straus about the proposed Marine Center, reported that projects such as the proposed Creek Road upgrade with “this level of design” that “are ready to go” are exactly what the state is looking to support.

            Waterman said the bidding process tends to be more successful in the fall. He anticipates taking such a project to Town Meeting next May and then bidding the project in the fall of 2022. Munafo talked about the requirements and emphases of the grant application process.

            The conversation briefly turned to complications associated with the ongoing removal of sludge and lining of the lagoon at the wastewater treatment plant.

            Munafo reported that Davis is working with Weston and Sampson and aiming at a July bidding season for a combined project to upgrade the Mill Street, Hill Street, Cushing Community Center, and Fire Station sewers.

            Waterman discussed the ongoing residential developments in Marion and the need to get the projects hooked up to town sewer. He said the town needs to look at capital spending over a 10-year period and try to translate a plan toward the end game of reducing the burden on the town’s ratepayers.

            The next meeting of the Marion Water & Sewer Commissioners is scheduled to be held in September, but no specific date was set at adjournment.

Marion Water & Sewer Commissioners

By Mick Colageo

New COA Director Ready to Serve

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            Eric Poulin may be new to the role of Council on Aging director in Rochester, but he brings with him a depth of knowledge on a number of issues facing senior citizens. That came through loud and clear when The Wanderer caught up with Poulin during the June 24 Meet and Greet that the COA hosted with its new director.

            Poulin said when he began to consider making a career change, he knew he wanted to do something that would give his more than 20 years of experience in the Fall River District Attorney’s Office handling elder affairs a new opportunity to serve a population whose numbers grow with each day. Poulin’s scope of experience, which includes being on the boards of Bristol Elder Services, Southeast Alliance for Elders, and the Samaritans, placed him in direct contact with 27 senior centers in the DA’s service area.

            “I was interacting with senior centers and was aware of the work they were doing.… It was something that interested me,” said Poulin, whose timely opportunity to fill Rochester’s COA vacancy could be deemed something that was meant to be. He wanted the opportunity to work directly with seniors face to face and now he can.

            Poulin’s previous experience found him organizing and coordinating massive events geared toward providing information to seniors on a variety of issues such as fraud and cybercrime. He wants to bring programs to Rochester that will help seniors to better understand and protect themselves against illegal activities, but he has other ideas, too, such as helping seniors navigate effectively on computers.

            “A recent survey conducted by Coastline Elder Services found that seniors want to learn how to use a computer; it was the number-one issue they wanted addressed,” Poulin said. He said the second item ranked on the survey was exercise programs. On that score, Poulin is already searching out potential Tai Chi instructors. And the third item ranked in the Coastline survey was the hiring of service providers for home repairs and improvements. “I want to help seniors think about what should be considered before hiring a contractor,” Poulin stated.

            In July, Poulin plans to bring a speaker to the Rochester COA from the attorney general’s office to address the topic of being a savvy senior. He said he plans to bring in a variety of presenters to discuss matters that are relevant to local seniors.

            Also in attendance at the welcoming event was Selectman Woody Hartley, a longtime member of the COA’s Board of Directors. Of Poulin, he said, “Eric is on top of programs and has lots of networking contacts … for programs on many topics.” Hartley believes the COA has been a well-oiled machine for many years and that Poulin will help focus efforts in that continuum of service.

            Hartley pointed to the voters as a prime reason the COA and youth athletic programs have flourished in the community. “The town has supported both very well,” he said.

            To contact Poulin, call 508-763-8723 or send an email to epoulin@townofrochester.com.

By Marilou Newell

Horan Completes Unforgettable Year

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            After a year of so much frustration and letdown, the Old Rochester Regional High School athletic community bore witness to a season unlike any other for one senior student-athlete.

            Meghan Horan’s final year with the Bulldogs began in the winter, with ORR opting for the Fall II season that the MIAA offered schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though there wasn’t a state tournament to compete this past winter season, Horan and the rest of ORR’s girls basketball team made the best of their situation. Even with a pause in the action due to quarantining, the Bulldogs won every regular-season game and the South Coast Conference tournament.

            “She’s a leader, but she doesn’t have to yell. She’s very positive about things,” ORR girls basketball coach Rick Regan said about Horan. “Her teammates follow her and know that she has their best interests (at heart), and they’re willing to work hard for her, as well. It helps to have good talent around you, but it also helps if you can have the person that can lead that talent in the right direction. I think that’s one of Meg’s greatest characteristics – she’s a natural leader due to her work ethic and positivity.

            “I think what was great about Meg was I was a new coach coming in for her – she had Coach (Bob) Hohne for three years in a row so she knew what to expect – she didn’t know what to expect from me. She took the initiative and sent an email to me just after I was appointed to let me know who she was and what she learned from the older girls and how she wanted to take that knowledge and help out the younger girls to be a good influence on them.”

            When the Fall II season rolled around, Horan and her ORR volleyball teammates managed to replicate what girls basketball had done. They also went unbeaten in the regular season and won the SCC tournament.

            “I think her accomplishments speak to who she is as a person, not only as a good student-athlete. We chose her as a captain for a reason,” ORR volleyball coach Jimmy Oliveira said of Horan. “She’s a true competitor. She’s a true leader. I think one of the biggest things is that she’s never selfish, and she always puts the team first. She sets the tone for the team and leads by example.

            “Her graduating and moving onto college is definitely going to be felt on the team and a hard role to fill.”

            Then came the spring, which reintroduced MIAA State Tournament play. Although the top-ranked ORR girls lacrosse team fell short in the Division 1 South Sectional tournament, losing 18-15 to No. 9 Scituate in the quarterfinals, ORR earned the No. 1 seed by going 10-0 in the regular season. That mark gave Horan a perfect record in regular season play for all sports in her senior year.

            “Mike Devoll, the school principal, let me know she hadn’t lost a game all year. I think we were playing our last league game when he said, ‘Don’t ruin it – Horan hasn’t lost a conference game all year,’” ORR girl lacrosse coach Scott Tavares recalled. “She just leads by example is the best way I can put it. Obviously, she’s one of our better players, everybody knows that. But it’s her ability to lead that I think girls really gravitate to. She never takes a play off in practice. You know that every single day you’re going to get 100 percent effort from Meg. She doesn’t really have that many off days. She’s always on top of her game.

            “I think a perfect example was we tried to practice early in the afternoon after school, and I could say, ‘Hey Meg, I’m going to be 10 minutes late to practice. Can you make sure the girls are going?’ I’m coming out to practice 10 minutes late and I see Meg leading a stretch. She keeps everyone accountable. As a coach, she’s like an extension of myself. And the girls in the program, when Meghan says to do something, it’s almost like an automatic.”

            What does Horan make of the unfathomable accomplishment?

            “This year is definitely one to remember,” she said. “With how it started, it was just a very weird year. One of the biggest things I’ll remember is how, through every season, we got through (the adversity) and were able to complete the season.”

            But of course, Horan also thought of all the teammates she played alongside this year when reflecting on her accomplishment.

            “Every team I played on, everyone put in 100-percent effort,” she said. “My teammates are what kept the record and kept us playing great. I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

            Now Horan moves onto UMass Amherst where she will either try to walk onto the basketball or lacrosse team. If not, she will continue her athletic career at the club level while studying marketing at the university’s Isenberg School of Management.

            “I think Meg is going to have a very bright future,” Oliveira said. “It’s definitely in her hands to do what she wants to do. She has all the qualities, she’s a great person. She demonstrated great maturity at the high school age already. I think she’s going to keep competing, keep leading – just in different ways.”

Old Rochester Boys Lacrosse

            The third-seeded Bulldogs saw their 2021 run come to an end in the Division 2 South Sectional semifinals, losing 13-4 to No. 7 Scituate. Brendan McIntire, Ben Austin, Tyler Cardinal, and Brady Lee were the goal scorers in the loss. ORR finished the season 12-2 after going 2-1 in state tournament play.

Machacam Club Meeting

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The Machacam Club will meet on Wednesday, July 7. The meeting will be held at the 3 Depot Street Legion Hall. Social time begins at 5:00 pm with dinner beginning at 6:00 pm. Our own Chef Colby is preparing a roast pork dinner. This is our first meeting of the 2020/2021 Club year and we are happy to get one meeting on the books following this difficult year; the Club has been meeting for 70-plus years, so let’s keep the tradition going. We promise a filling and delicious meal and an entertaining meeting. If you need a ride to and from the meeting, please let us know and we will arrange it.

            Callers please report your lists by noon on Monday, July 5, to 508-758-1326 or cwmccullough@comcast.net. New Members always welcome – contact Chuck.

Local School Districts to Receive Educational Grants

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The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that the Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Old Rochester school districts have been awarded funding to provide enhanced educational opportunities for students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Acceleration Academy Grant Program, districts receiving these one-time grants will be able to provide additional class time during the summer months in support of early literacy efforts and supplemental math instruction.

            “This was a particularly difficult period of time for our K-12 students, and I hope that these added resources will help students that may have had difficulty adjusting during the past year-and-a-half,” said Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett).

            Marion and Mattapoisett are set to receive grants of $14,000. Rochester will receive $16,500, and Old Rochester will receive $20,500. Under the grant program, acceleration academies will benefit from limited class sizes and are expected to run one week each.

Taste of the Town

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For years, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club has hosted “Taste of the Town” under the tent during Harbor Days Week. In summer 2021, for the second year in a row, this will be a “Taste of the Town Without the Tent,” as members look forward to a full in-person return in 2022.

            As a “Thank You” to our participating restaurants and caterers for their support and generosity during the past years, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club will spotlight one restaurant each week for the 12 weeks of summer with a special sign in front of the business. Look for it and give them a shout-out of “Thanks” with your patronage during that week and all summer long.

            The philanthropic projects of the MWC have continued even as members were unable to gather in-person, including scholarship awards totaling $5,000 to Mattapoisett students, daffodil bulbs planted in public gardens, seasonal container plantings at the Mattapoisett Post Office, Town Beach, Mattapoisett Library, Town Hall, and Town Harbor, plus weeding and garden maintenance at various locations in public areas around the town.

            The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club is always open to new members from the South Coast area. For more information and a membership application, please see the Club’s website at www.mattapoisettwomansclub.org/members/.

ORRHS Undergrads Earn Awards

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            Old Rochester Regional High School recently announced Undergraduate Awards.

            ORR honored the following students who performed at the highest level within their remote learning plan during the 2020-21 academic year. These students are recipients of the 2021-22 Principal’s Achievement Award: Grade 9 – Ethan Furtado, Camryn Maniatis, and Hanna Whalley; Grade 10 – Abigail Paulette, Andrew Poulin, Makenna Servais and Isabella Vanderpol; and for Grade 11 – Justin Allain, Jaelyn Allen, James Coleman, Olivia Mydlack, and Klara Whalley.

            American Legion Awards: Boys State – Edward Gonet, John Kassabian, Tyler Trudeau, and Samuel Harris; Girls State – Isabella Hunter, Amaya McLeod, and Tavish Nunes.

            Presidential Service Awards: Gold – Caitlin Collier, Alia Cusolito, and Edward Gonet IV; Silver – Ashley Lawrence; and Bronze – Reese Burger, David Ditata, Tavish Nunes, Desmond Sinnott, and Autumn Tilley.

            Science & Technology Awards for Excellence: Biology – Andrew Porter and Tyler Williams; Marine Biology – Michael Holmes and Julia Sheridan; Honors Forensic Science – Christopher Bell; AP Biology – Ethan Perez-Dormitzer; Honors Physics – Claudie Bellanger; AP Physics – Colby Gross; Organic Chemistry – Isabella Correira; Honors Chemistry – Theodore Carroll; Chemistry A – Leo Grondin; AP Chemistry – Amaya McLeod; Honors Anatomy and Physiology – Stephen Old; APES – Sofia Martins; Architecture Design – Alex Harrigan; Technical Drawing – Andrew Porter; Engineering – Colby Gross; Computer Science – Mackenzie Luong, Amaya McLeod, and Marc Pothier; Game Design and Development – Jake Cronin; Multimedia Design – Logan Perry and Riley Farrell; Web Design and Development – Maxwell Tucker; and Robotics Engineering – Erin Besancon and Samuel Harris.

Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award: Stephen Old.

            Cape Cod Tufts Club Book Award: Sawichaya Phimolmas.

            Unified Arts Awards for Excellence: Photography – Arielle Troupe; Painting – Taylor Green; Ceramics – Charles Richards and Isabel Friedrichs; Drawing – Autumn Tilley; Visual Design – Jamie MacKenzie; Mixed Media – Sofia Martins; Visual Art Department Award – Taylor Green; Band 11 – Emily DellaCioppa; Band 10 – Andrew Poulin; Band 9 – Corinne Hibbert; A Cappella 11 – Edward Gonet; Chorus 11 – Christopher Bell; Chorus 10 – Drew MacGregor; Chorus 9 – Chloe Bean; Jazz Band 11 – Caleb DeVoe; Jazz Band 10 – Leo Grondin; and Jazz Band 9 – Jacob Hadley.

            Excellence in Intro to Early Education and Care (highest grade/average): Kelly Quinlan, Rylie Coughlin, and Theo Jacobson.

            Recognition Award Community Service in Early Education and Care: Rylie Coughlin, Elizabeth Harrington, Lila Bangs, Reese Burger, and Autumn Tilley.

            Classical and Modern Languages Awards for Outstanding Achievement: Latin 1 – Paetyn Tripp; Latin 2 – Allison Winters; Latin 3 – Sarah Wyman; Latin 4 – Autumn Tilley; Spanish 1 – Eva Hartley and Nashajiia Monteiro; Spanish 2 – Andrew Porter; Spanish 3 – Theodore Carroll; and Spanish 4 – Emma Thorell.

National Latin Exam

            Latin 2: Gold Medal Summa Cum Laude – Brenna O’Donnell; Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude – Allison Winters; Magna Cum Laude Certificate – Cole Goldie; Cum Laude Certificate – Nicholas Miedema and Emma Whittaker.

            Latin 3: Silver Medal-Maxima Cum Laude – Caitlin Collier; Cum Laude Certificate – Mason Hanks and Rudy Arsenault.

            Latin 4: Gold Medal Summa Cum Laude – Marc Pothier and Samuel Harris; Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude – Autumn Tilley; Magna Cum Laude Certificate – Nathaniel Bangs; and Cum Laude Certificate – Magdalena Brogioli.

            English Awards for Excellence: English 9A – Sara Kroll, Logan Perry and Emilia Perriera; Honors English 9 – Andrew Porter, Alia Cusolito and Corinne Hibbert; English 10 A – Kira Sarkarati and Rudy Arsenault; English 10 – Emma Van Ness; Honors English 10 – Corinne Robert and Caitlin Collier; Honors English 11 – Natalya Rivera and Logan Fernandes; English 11A – Jamie MacKenzie, George Barry and Nathan Yurof; Advanced Placement English 11 – Sofia Martins and Isabella Correia; Theater – Matthew Curry; Advanced Placement Seminar – Theodore Carroll and Reagan Rock; and Genealogy – Brianna Arruda.

            Mathematics Awards for Excellence: Geometry – Jaymison Gunschel and Logan Leblanc; Honors Geometry – Theo Jacobsen; Excellence in Algebra 1 – Amber Engel and Emily Abbott; Algebra 2 – Sarah Wyman; Honors Algebra 2 – Caitlin Collier and Rudy Arsenault; Honors Precalculus – Amaya McLeod; Precalculus – Isabella Hunt; Advanced Algebra with Precalculus – George Barry; Advanced Placement Statistics – Autumn Tilley; and Advanced Placement Calculus – Ethan Perez-Dormitzer.

            Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: Colby Gross.

            Social Studies Awards for Excellence: United States History II (Grade 11) – Samuel Harris; United States History I (Grade 10) – Caitlin Collier; and World History (Grade 9) – Alia Cusolito.

            Principal’s Recognition: Freshman – Rylie Coughlin and James Thomas; Sophomore – Reagan Rock and Collin Carroll; and Junior – Tavish Nunes and David Ditata.

            Old Rochester Tri-Town Education Foundation’s Lighthouse Book Awards: Isabella Correia and Edward Gonet IV.

            Angela Pedulli and James Russell were named Sippican School’s Lighthouse Book Award winners.